Rifle



Nov. 26, 1940. N." 1.. BREWER RIFLE Filed Nov. 8, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTQR N ICHOLH5 L BREWER ATTORN EYS Nov. 26, N. L. BREWER RIFLE Filed Nov. 8, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR NICHOLR a L tfmcwcn ATTO RN EYS 30 t. .tion will appear from the specification andclaims Patented Nov; 26, 1940 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT OFFICE This; invention relates to rifles and more especially to several features or constructions therein that will'be used more particularly with single shot, handcocked rifles of the bolt action type.

The general purpose of my present. invention is to provide a new and improved form of. rifle and especiallyto-provide several features that are most advantageously used in-"asingleshot,

handcocked rifle of the breech bolt action type asillustrated in the drawings herein although some features of construction are not limited in their use to the details of that type of. rifle.

A further general purpose is to provide new features' of construction or assembling and of operation which render the rifle. simple and; economical in construction and readily assembled and durable and effective in operation.

Furtherspeciflc purposes or aims of this in- -vention are as. follows: T

vTo forrn an enlargement of the extractor clearance .cut on the barrel and form a circularly regi'steringand axially adjacent cutv in the wall ofthe head spacerecess at'the front end. of the breech bolt to provide a simple and effective vent L for the escape of powder gases without injury to theshooter, and to provide a' means of. visually j determining whether orfnot the" chamber of the barrel is loaded with a cartridge without opening the action. v I f Further purposes andad'vantag'es of the inven herein; 7 y

.The subject matterrelating to the rebounding [striker construction for firearms described'he'rein; andv shown in the drawings hereof 'andfo'rmerlyclaimed herein has been made the basis for a separate and divisional application filed in the United States Patent Office July 23, 1938 as Ser'ialI'No. 220,921. Similarly, the subject matter rela'tingtothe trigger and sear mechanism for firearms, described herein and shown in the drawings hereof and formerly c1aimed"herein',

visional application filed in'the United. States Patent Oflice on or about July 25, 1938 as Serial has been made the basis for a separate and dibreech member is closed but therifle not cocked.

Fig. 2-is aside view of the parts shown in Fig. 1 but omitting the stock, and with the breech member retracted. f I

with the} breech member closed and with the t 24 isa of the" breech'iblock and the. adjacent portion of Fig. 3 is a right-'handqside elevation of the rear'portionof the combination barrel and. receiver; Fig. '4 is- .a rear viewthereof. Fig. 5 is a side view of the striker-retaining 10011; '11.

Fig. 6 is a side elevation similar to Fig. 2 but rifle cocked. I

Figs. 7 and 8;are-righ-t side-and top viewsrespectively of the-sear.

Fig.,9isa side-view of the trigger. Fig. 10 is a right-hand side view of the breech bolt'and parts mounted therein-or thereon as seen at the angle where the handle projects directly up from thebreech bolt, parts of the breech boltadjacent the extractor and the handlebeingbroken away tobetter showdetails of construction. j Y I I I Fig. 11 isa right-hand elevation, of the. breech bolt and its assembled" partsandithe adjacent parts of the searand trigger; in the; position they occupy when'th'e bolt islocked and when the-striker is in rebounded or neutral position.

Fig. 12 is a; front-end view of the assembled and when the said parts are seen from me eehand sideoi the rifle. Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 13butw-iththe partsin the position they occupy when the rifle is cocked. Fig. 15 is a view similar to 13 but with'the parts inthe position they occupy. when the rifle has been fired'but prior to. therebound of the-striker.

Eigs.. 16, ..1.7 and- 1'8 are respectively top or plan, right. side elevation and. bottom views of the striker when the breech. block is in locked posi? tion..

Figs. 19 maze: are respectively side and. edge yiew'sbfthe firing pin. Figs. .21 and: 2 2 are sideand' edge. views offlthe extractor. I v Fig. 23 is .avertical sectional view on an en.- Ia-rged scale and looking forward online 2'3a-2'3 of Fig. 1. i

a v vertical sectional viewon line z t-24 of Fig 1 on a similar enlarged'scale but looking rearwardly. v v l Fig. 25 is. a. diametrical sectional View. as" on lineaz5f-f-25' of Figl 23;. through the forward end the combined barrel and receiver and showing a cartridge in position, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 23, that is outwardly along the bolt handle.

Fig. 26 is a cross sectional View on line 26-426 of Fig. 13 and showing the rear end of the firing pin and so its relative angular position in the chamber of the breech bolt directly in line with the striker 3|.

Fig. 27 is a central vertical longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of mounting the upper end of the trigger in the receiver and Fig. '28 is a top or plan View of the relevant portion of the parts shown in Fig. 27.

Referring to the drawings in a more particular description it will be seen that the rifle illustrated is of the bolt action, single shot, hand loaded and hand cocked type and includes one member 25 being a combined or integrally formed barrel 2G and receiver 21 mounted above the stock 28, a breech bolt 29 reciprocatingly mounted in the chamber 33 of the receiver with said breech bolt in turn having mounted therein a striker 3| normally controlled by the sear 32 and trigger 33.

The chamber 33 extends for the whole length of the receiver 27 to slidingly receive therein the generally cylindrically shaped breech bolt 29. From this chamber there projects to the right and for nearly one-third of the circle of the receiver the loading and ejecting aperture 34 and from the upper part of this aperture there is a narrower straight rearwardly extending passage 35 for the movement therethrough of the inner end of the breech bolt handle 36. At the rear end of the lower half of the loading aperture 34 the receiver provides a forwardly facing shoulder 31 against which the rear face of the inner end of the bolt handle engages when the breech bolt had been slid to forward position and then partly rotated to lock the same in forward position by downward movement of the said handle as is shown best in Figs. 1 and 6.

The relative form and shape of the loading opening 34 and the passage 35 clearly appear from Fig. 3 which is a side View of the receiver 21 and the adjacent rearward portion of the barrel 26. As appears from Fig. 4 which is a rear view of the receiver and barrel, the rearward end -of the receiver at its lower part is provided with a guiding cut 38 wide enough and long enough to slidingly receive therein the upper end of the upstanding finger 39 on the sear 32.

Transversely extending through the lower portion of the receiver slightly forward from its rear end and slightly spaced from the guiding out 38 there is provided an angularly disposed slot 49 which slopes forward as it extends downwardly and is adapted to loosely receive the correspondingly slanted upward projection 4| at the upper and rear end of the trigger 33.

Immediately forward of the slanting projection 4| on the trigger, the trigger is provided with a forwardly extending straight portion 42 which normally lies parallel to the adjacent lower surface of the receiver. Thereafter the trigger has a central straight portion 43, the upper portion of which extends through the aperture 44 in the sear 32. Conveniently but not necessarily the opposite edges of this central portion of the trigger are provided with outwardly extending enlargements 45 which are immediately below the sear adjacent the aperture 44. As appears from Fig. 1, this central portion 43 of the trigger extends downwardly at right angles to the receiver and through the main recess 46 in the stock provided to house the receiver and the sear and trigger and also through the secondary recess 4'! extending entirely down through the stock for the passage there through of the trigger. Below this secondary recess 41 there is provided the ordinary trigger guard 48 into the opening of which the lower part 49 of the tri ger extends for manual operation thereof in the usual way.

As is best shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the sear 32 is a combined sear and sear spring being formed of a relatively long bar of spring metal provided at its rearward end with the upstanding finger 39 already mentioned and provided a short distance forward thereof with the aperture 44 through which the trigger passes. Adjacent the aperture 44 the sear is enlarged laterally and forward of this enlarged portion the sear extends forward still spaced from the lower side of the receiver and of the barrel almost to its forward end which is offset upwardly and curved to fit the rounding face of the adjacent portion of the barrel. This combined sear and sear spring is secured to the barrel by the take-down lug 5D, the lower part 5| of which is enlarged relative to its upper screwthreaded portion 52 so that an upwardly facing shoulder 53 is provided bearing against the lower part of the front end of the sear. The arrangement and construction is such as to give a constant upward tension to the rear end of the scar and thus hold the trigger in normal position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 but allowing a rearward pull upon the finger portion of the trigger to depress the sear to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, at which position the upper portion of the finger on the sear has become disengaged from the striker 3|. It will be obvious that the proper rearward pressure upon the lower or finger portion of the trigger will bodily swing thetrigger. During such swinging operation, the upper projection 4| on the trigger will act as a sliding fulcrum pivot for the trigger, and the lower surface of the forward part of the straight upper portion 42 of the trigger will bear against the upper face of the sear at the rear of the aperture 44 and so swing the rear end of the sear downwardly. As soon as the sear is released from the striker the striker will shoot forward under the action of the combined main spring and rebound spring 15 and effect a firing impulse upon the firing pin 82 as hereinafter described. As soon as thepressure of the shooters finger is released from the trigger, the sear under its normal tension will return to normal position carrying therewith the trigger to its normal position. Thematerial of the receiver adjacent the rear side of the slot 40 will be upset or punched upwardly on both sides of the trigger finger 4| as at 56 and thus operate to hold the trigger from any possibility of lateral displacement from the slot 40.

It will be noted that this mechanism of the sear and sear spring and the trigger is very easily constructed and easily and economically assembled and is strong and rigid and requires no additional or further parts other than the takedown lug 50 for holding the parts in place, and that no'special parts or additional parts are required or used to form a pivot for the swinging of the trigger'nor for the articulation of the trigger I against the sear.

' J-bolt extends only through the breech bolt itself,-

' at the rim. "It is one of the well known dangers very positively positioned by the locking of the type suchas used in this rifle explodes orbursts f bolt-action rifles that such an explosion of a cartridgetends to allow the powder gases from "explosion to travel back along the "apparently tight fit of the bolt in the receiver and thus approach and sometimes reach the shooters eye. Mypresent safety feature consists in providing a positive and sufficiently large cut or clearance 51-.

on the right-hand side of the barrel immediate- .lyforward of the loading and ejecting aperture 34 andalso by providing a cut or opening 58 at the forward end of the breech'bolt 29. This forward-cut or opening 58 in the breech bolt is at the right-hand side of the .breech bolt when it is locked and is in extent about one-third of the circle of the said breech bolt and is', when the breech bolt is locked, directly opposite or to the rear of the clearance 5'! cut in the barrel.

' The detailed view Fig. 23 being taken on the. vertical sectional line directly at the'rear of the barrel shows the relative position and extent-of J g the cut or clearance 51 in the barrel. The shade lines upon the cut 51 indicate the forwardly and cartridge is forced and held by the forward.

outwardly tapering faceof this cut on the. barrel while the section lines indicate the extent of the receiver Z'Ithat is left intact." The central circle represents the bore 59 of the barrel and the roughly semi-circular portion to the left of .the

' center in this Fig. 23 repr'esents'the vertical rear face 60 'of'the barrel proper against which the forward side of the flange 6i of the rim-fire movement and locked position of the breechbolt 12a H Fi-g525 which is adiametrical sectional View on line 2-5 of Fig. 23 indicates in the near part of the view the cut or clearance 5'! which is upon the'right' hand side of the barrel. It will be I noted particularly that this cut 51 tapers for- I 'ward'ly as it extends out to the extreme-outer periphery of the barrel and allows a free vent directed forwardlyfor powder gases from a burst cartridge rim. It will be seen also from thisview and also from other views in the drawings' that this vent is entirely unobstructed and also 'thatthe cut or opening 58 in' the breech bolt 29 is opendirectly out to the atmosphere and is not covered or obstructed in any way. While is clear and unobstructed and particularly nothe opening 58 in the forward end of the breech itwill beseen that the outer end of this opening part of the barrelnor of the receiver'overhangs or covers the outlet therefrom. These two cuts 51 and li8 together form a very effective vent for the powder gases to escape directly to the right and awayfrom the shooters face in case a cartridge rim bursts and the gases pass laterally fr om therflangev of the cartridge.

Fig.24 being a vertical sectional View on line Y 24-24 of Fig. 1v or through the head space looking rearwardly and on an enlarged scale clearly indicates the circumferential extent of the cut 58 at the forward end of' the-breech bolt 29... This view is takendirectly on the plane of the" I breech face 'or recessed forward face of the breech bolt. The breech face .63 is theflat face circular 7 in shape and equalling in size the rear end of j "5 l. plane of the breech face 63 'and the plane of the his the cartridge; that is,'the cartridge where it is,

enlarged by the presence of the cartridge flange The head space is the distance between the rear face 60 of: the barrel. extent of this headf'space has to be very definitely fixed and considerably with different makes, styles and ally of the rifle and without giving any tendency third of the periphery of the bolt head.

breech bolt in its forward position so as to-"hold the rear end of the cartridge accurately and very positively in place so'that the cartridges willnot be subjected to an abnormal or dangerous burst?- ing force by'the regular firing thereof. On the other hand, the extent of overhang of the flange .1 I

of a cartridge beyond the circle of the cartridge chamber of the barrel is an element that varies kinds of ammunition so that it is'recognized that it is impracticable to support closely in a radial direction the periphery of the flange of the-cartridge; However, if the cartridge is properly placed and held in the chamber of the barrel and its rear end properly and accurately supported by the breech face, the pressure from normal firing of the cartridge is not enoughto rupture the periphery of the flange because the strength 20 of the metal forming the rim of the cartridge is sufficient to hold considering the slight inside area of the flange that is subjectedto the pres sure of firing. The forwardly projecting wall '64 about the breech face is not relied upon to touch or engage the periphery of the flange of the cartridge and the said wall is in no case effective to prevent-the rearward passing of powder gasesin case of the bursting of the rim of a cartridge. :In this rifle, however, I have enlarged the cut through the wall 64 of the bolt head so as to provide not only for the extractor 65 but to provide a relatively wide extent of opening in the circle of the wall St, for free and unobstructed escape of the powder gases from explosion laterfor the gases to have to travel rearwardly of the breech bolt in order to escape. In Fig. 24 the breech bolt 63 is the inner circle bounded at its right hand part as seen in said view by the re maining portion of the wall 64 of the breech bolt the dotted line. \ery' of the breech bolt there is shown thecut 58 which it is seen extends for substantially one- The cut or clearance 5'8 in the right handside of the rear end of the barrel also provides more than the, necessary amount of clearance for the hook 66 on the forward end of the extractor to advance into as the breech bolt is moved straight forward as the inner end of the handle-36. travels through the passage and as the said hook 'at the lower side of the loading aperture 34. As

the longitudinally extending arm of the extractor 65 is narrower than the width of themner part or base of the handle 36 and in fact preferably has its center line substantially in the center line of the said base of the handle as appears from Fig. 24, there is aspace between the hook 66 of the extractor and the th'ereb-elow edge .61 of the receiver which space. affords a'vent even below the extractor for the escape of powder gases if required. The presence of this space below-the extractor is plainly-seen in. Fig. 1. In

that figure also aswell as in Fig. 6 there is shown 10 and-bounded on the left as seen in this View by Beyond out-to the outer periph- 7 the Very much larger space above the hook of the extractor where the cut or clearance 51 in the barrel and the cut or opening 58 in the breech bolt are entirely clear of any obstruction even from the extractor. The forming of the cut or clearance 51 in the barrel for a greater part of the circle of the barrel than is required for the partial rotation of the extractor as the breech bolt is partially rotated eliminates the necessity of a separate operation to form a clearance for the hook of the: extractor. Furthermore, the forming of this cut or clearance 51 in the barrel and the consequent permitting of the rotation of the extractor without impairing the efficiency of the rifie permits a further simplification of the construction of the action and particularly the construction of the breech bolt in that the breech bolt in this rifle is made in one solid piece instead of having to make the breech member in two parts with a forward end only reciprocating and with its rear end or attached part rotating in order to lock the breech bolt by the turning of the handle.

The out or opening 58 in the breech bolt in effect eliminates the part of the wall 64 on the bolt head which is opposite the loading and extracting aperture 34 when the breech bolt is in forward and locked position so that it is possible to see whether or not a cartridge is in the rifle without opening the action. The forwardly tapering formation of the cut or clearance 51 in the barrel, however, makes a possible observation of the rim or flange of the cartridge in the rifle much more easy and certain and available at various angles of the rifle. If the rear face of the barrel were carried straight out to the periphery of the barrel instead of being removed by the cut 51, the rear end of the cartridge would be at the bottom of a very narrow deep groove and would be in most conditions too shaded or darkened by the overhanging metal to enable the shooter to tell with certainty whether or not the rifle is loaded. It will thus be seen that the vent opening provided by the combined cut or clearance 51 in the barrel and the cut or opening 58 in the breech bolt forms a convenient and trustworthy visual indication of whether there is a cartridge in the rifle.

The breech bolt 29 is circular in cross section and cylindrical in outline. The forward end in the main is solid but its rear half is tubular in form providing a chamber 68 open at its rear end and bounded at its forward end by a transverse wall 69 where the solid forward half of the breech bolt begins. In this chamber 68 is slidingly mounted the striker 35. In this rifle the striker is cooked by hand, that is the striker is drawn back manually by the shooter grasping the rear portion of the striker that projects beyond the rear end of the breech bolt as seen at the left of Figs. 1, l and 11 and as seen at the right hand end of Fig. 13. This rear end or tail of the striker also projects beyond the rear end of the receiver when the breech bolt is in closed position but not cocked as appears in Fig. 1. After the striker has been moved back to cocked position shown in Fig. 14, it is automatically retained and held in that position by the finger 39 on the sear 32 at once springing up into an open ing F0 in the bottom wall of the hollow striker where the rear side of the finger of the sear engages the shoulder 'II at the back of said opening in the striker. The arrangement of the parts at this cocked position is well shown in Fig. 14 and also in Fig. 6 where the rear end of the receiver and also the rear lower end of the chambered part of the breech bolt and also a small part of the chambered portion of the striker are cut away on purpose to show the finger of the sear extending through the guiding cut 38 in the rear end of the receiver and through the clearance cut 12 in the rear lower portion of the wall of the breech bolt adjacent its rear end and into the opening Ill in the bottom wall of the striker.

The drawing back of the striker by the shooter pulling upon the tail of the striker compresses the coiled spring 15 mounted within the central bore 16' of the striker and encircling a considerable part of the shank of the striker retaining bolt 71. The head 78 of this bolt is to the rear of the action while its forward end extends into a centrally-located longitudinally extending hole 54 provided in the forward solid half of the breech bolt. Slightly back from its forward end this striker-retaining bolt I8 is screw-threaded to fit the screw-threaded portion of the said hole 54.

The inner end of the breech bolt handle 38 is provided with a tenon 36 which projects transversely of the breech bolt into a correspondingly shaped and close-fitting mortise 29 in the breech bolt some distance forward of the wall 69 in the said breech bolt. The tenon 35 extends well past the center of the breech bolt and is provided with a hole 36* through which the striker-retaining bolt 11 extends on its way into the portion of the solid breech bolt forward of said mortise. It will now be seen that the striker-retaining bolt 11 thus forms without the use of any extra parts a very effective means for absolutely locking the handle 36 to the breech bolt.

After the parts of the breech bolt are assembled it is very necessary that the ultimate adjustment by screwing the striker-retaining bolt 1'! forward be maintained, and that the unscrewing of said striker-retaining bolt 11 from the breech bolt be prevented by positive means that will withstand the jar and vibration of the repeated firing of the rifle and of the back and forth movement given to the breech bolt as the rifle is used. I have provided such a positive locking means without the use of any extra parts by using the short transversely extending arm 78 of the extractor 65. This extractor 65 is L- shaped in side elevation as appears from Fig. 21 and also from Fig. 10 and preferably its short arm is circular in cross section as also is the hole 19 extending transversely through the breech bolt slightly forward of the handle 39. After the exact position of the striker-retaining bolt 71 is once determined its forward end is cut or punched off as by a round punch held transversely against the end of the said bolt 11 that extends into the hole 54 in the breech bolt. The shearing off of this forward part of the bolt Tl by a round punch forms a concave surface at the front end of said striker-retaining bolt against which fits the round short arm 18 of the extractor. It will then be seen that when the extractorv 65 is placed in position with its short arm 18 projecting into hole 19 of the breech bolt and with the body of the extractor placed in the longitudinally extending recess 80 provided in the upper side of the breech bolt as the parts are seen in Fig. 10, the said short arm 78 by fitting into the concave surface of the front end of the striker-retaining bolt 71 will hold'that bolt 1'! positively from unscrewing no matterv what the jar or vibration may be. In

theory and eveninpractice the nice; determination of the correct position'cf the striker-retain ing bolt T! may be determined by actually screwing it up to the proper extent in the breech bolt 1 so that a small part of its forward end projects into-the hole-i9- inthe breech bolt. 'With the breech bolt 29 and the striker-retaining boltrl'l held in this relative position, a roundpunch of the proper diameter may be passeddown through the hole 1 9 and then driven past the striker-reextractor. I i

It will be understood that the extractorifii is made of proper resilient material asspring steel so that after its short -arm is mounted :inthe ho1e'1'9. in the breech boltthe necessary resilie ency- 'for the hook at the forward end; of theextractor to spring up over. the flange of the cartridge and then" settle down at the front of the flange of the cartridge as'the breech-bolt is moved I into forward position is .5 provided by the resiliency of the. extractor. It will be understood of course thatthe short arm 18. of the ex; tractor fits verysnugly into its hole [9 so that 1 the pressure of'the rim or flange- 0f thecartridge against thelslcp ing forward, face of the hook of the extractor does not operatetoipry the ex- I ,-tractor bodily nomthe'breech. bolt nor the 1 ,short arm oft-the extractor from. its hole;v c As a ""ffurther safe-guard, however, and in order tohold' the said extractor permanently in the. breech gbolt' the metal ofthe breech. bolt at the sides of theextractor recess, especially towards the rear 'endoithe recess, is burred over or stakedover 7 into the recess above the adjoiningpart'of. the

{"extractor" as indicated at the points, 81.. The

form and proportion of the. blade. type. firing pin v 82 is clearly shown in Figs. 19,and. of the drawings which are. respectively side and-edge views thereof. The said-firing, pin isvconvenient- 'ly'formedofr a strip of flat. metal, of the proper thickness, length and structure. It is 'slidingly mounted in the iorward solid portion; of; the 'breechbolt which is provided with a 'deep slotjfls' ofa widthequallingf-the thickness of the firing The approximate angular 'dispositionof firing, pin slot 8'3 f'relative to they breechbolt is best sho'wnin Fig. 24. In other words, the slot 83 does not extend radially of the breech bolt but it extends in from one side of the breechbolt 1 this gun (as distinguished from a radial relation) pin and of a depth somewhat greater than the width of the firingf pin. It is retained; in the breech bolt and especially from 'sidewise 'displacement therefrom when the breech bolt is removed from the rifle by stakingoveri the. higher edge of the slot 8.3 above the adjoining edge of the firing pin more or less. as; indicated by overlapping-ears 83 (See Fig. 24;),

the

a little bit more than half way through the breech bolt so as to carry the firing pointM at the front endof the firing pininto line with the rim of the cartridge so that. when'thetrigger'is pulled the striker moves forward and gives to the firing pinthe necessary firing; blow to fire the cartridge; For this purpose the slot 82 slants past the center of the breech bolt as it extends in .andlocates the firing pinat the inner end of said 'slot opposite the rimv of. the cartridge instead pointtdand extending forward slightly farther," say about one-hundredth ofaninch more orless than; does the real firing point 84. This projection 85: as will-.be plainly seen in Fig. 24 is spaced out from the rimfof the cartridge and comes op;

posite the rear face of-the barrel 88. at zone' A spaced appreciablyiout'. from theedge of the chamber (FigQZB-J The function of this projection 851s to s trike'the said zone A on-vthe rear ;race...or the-livarrel-60 before the firing point 8d can strikejthe anvil on the rear face of the barrel 1 immediately at tl ie'yedge of-the chamber in case'- the rifleqis snapped when; there is no cartridge in the barrel. The anvil is the space immediately at the edge of the chamber'and: on the rear. face of the barrel included by the larger zone B shown on Fig. 23 in dotted lines andindicating the area for" the firingipoint 84.1 These very simple and relatively cheap; rifles are especially, intended ,for I and largely-used by boys and youths and arevery often snapped when there isv no cartridge in the point of the firing pin tobu-rr over or batterdow-n the regular firinglanvil part of the rear facelot such circumstances tends. to. allow the firing 'thelforw'ard edge of the flange of the cartridge rigidly enough and accurately ,enough'f for ;;the firing pin to give the, 'cartridge' the proper blow and] consequently such a, rifle may occasionally or oftenmis-fire although a goodcartridge is in place; f'By using a blade-type firing pinand providing the extra projection 85 spaced from and separate-from ,the'regular firing point 34, but striking the barrel at a point or zone A apart from the firing .flanviloi the barrel which extra projection 'is'so constructed and shaped as to strike the barrel if there is no cartridge inplace'before the firing pin can strike the anvil, the useless battering of 'the' anvil is avoided; The constructionfand co-operation of j 85 reaches the barrel and the firing pin after the is striker stops, continues and completes its forward motion only under. its own'momentum. This momentum of the firing pin. is not sufficient to distort its extra point .fiiithe firing pin being of harder metal than the barrel). nor to batter'down J the engaged'portion zone Ajof the rear face of I from the edge of the chamber and so'strongly supported in contrast to the anvil which is at the edge of the chamber.

Where the Whole front endof the firing pin is tangential to the rim of the cartridge as in it is a decided advantage to have the points 8 5' and 85 separatedbya recess as the presence of the recess reducesthe area of the rim of the cartridge that has to be pushedin when the firing blow is given.

On the inner side of the firing pin 82 there is provided a recess 86 of such depth that into it extends the short arm'lB 'of'theextractonf This recess is of such length that it allows the proper I longitudinal back and. forth movement of'the firing pin 82 but theopposite ends of 'thesaid [recess by engaging the said shortarm of the ex-;

1 the barrel in view of that zone Abe'ing well away I tractor prevent the said'firing pin from sliding lengthwise farther than required in its regular action and especially operates to hold the firing pin properly assembled in the breech bolt at all times and especially when the breech bolt is removed from the rifle.

In this rifle .I have provided a mechanism wherein the striker 3| is of the rebounding type and wherein one spring namely coiled spring performs the functions both of a main spring and a rebound spring. Details of this mechanism, especially the relative position of the different parts of the mechanism, are best shown in the enlarged sectional views, Figs. 13, 14 and 15.

As already mentioned the rearward half of the breech bolt 29 is provided with a chamber 68 open at its rear end and closed at its forward end by the wall 99. The striker-retaining bolt IT has the rearward portion of its shank extending longitudinally through the longitudinal axis of the chamber 68 and its forward end passes into a centrally located hole 54 extending some distance forward of the wall 69 in the solid part of the breech bolt and is fixed in position therein by the screw-threaded engagement of the forward end of said striker-retaining bolt with the rearward screw-threaded end of said hole in the breech bolt as already outlined. The body of the. striker 3| is generally cylindrical in form as appears from the different detailed outside views thereof, Figs. 16 to 18, and at the rear is provided with the tail portion 13 which consists of the reduced diametered portion M and to the rear thereof the enlarged ring-like portion or cocking knob 81 preferably knurled at its peri hery. The reduced size of the part 14 together with the enlarged ring-like and knurled portion 9'! afford a good gripping surface to be grasped by the shooters thumb and finger when the striker is to be pulled back against the tension of the spring 15 for cooking the rifle. The main bore E6 of the striker is circular in cross section and exten s for its full diameter for almost the full len th of the striker. At its forward end, however.

5 there is a reduced diametered passage 88 providing in the material of the striker at the r ar end of said passage 88 a strong annular shoulder 89 against which fits the forwardly facing a nular shoulder 99 at the forward face of the e larged annular flange 9| of the forward collar 92 which has a central aperture therein by means of which the collar is slidingly mounted u on the striker-retaining bolt TI. The enlarged rearward flange portion 9| of this collar slidinglv fits the main bore 16 of the striker and the reduced diameter of the main and forward portion of said collar fits slidingly in the small forward passage 88 of the striker. The striker or main spring 15 is mounted within the main bore Hi of the striker and is coiled about the striker-retaining bolt 11 and its forward end bears against the rear face 93 of the forward collar 92. The rear end of the said spring 15 bears against or is engaged by the forward face 94 of the rearward collar 95 which is slidingly mounted within the striker bore 16 and upon the shank of the retaining bolt 11. This rearward collar 95 is in turn held in place within the bore of the striker by the rearward end of the striker having a constricted opening conveniently formed by the metal at the rear end of the striker being suitably pressed inwardly forming an annular ring 96 of sufficient extent to confine the rearward collar 95 to the bore of the striker. The opening in this ridge 96, however, is of sufficient diameter to let the head 18 of the striker-retaining bolt 1'! pass therethrough into the main bore of the striker where at certain positions of the mechanism the forward face of said head 13 engages the rearward face of the rearward collar 95 and thereby operates to let said rearward collar 95 be a support fixed against any further rearward movement by said end of the spring '15 when the striker is moved bodily rearwardly as during the cocking operation of the rifle.

Fig. 13 shows the striker and other co-operating parts in the location they occupy when the striker is at neutral or re-bounded position; that is, after the rifle has been fired or snapped and the striker has gone back to re -bounded position and the rifle reloaded, closed and locked. In this position the tail or thumb-piece of the striker and a small part of the body of the striker immediately ahead of the tail projects rearwardly from the chamber 68 of the breech bolt. The forward end of the forward collar 92 is at its most forward position; that is, with its front end engaging the front wall 69 of the bore of the breech bolt. The rearward collar 95 is at its most rearward position relative to the striker and its rear face engages the forward side of the ridge 96 at the back of the striker and also engages the forward face of the head 18 of the striker-retaining bolt 11. The coiled spring 15 extends for its maximum working length between the rear face of the enlarged flange 9| of the forward collar 92 and the forward face 94 of the rearward collar 95 and the spring at this position is under partial minimum working compression. At this position the upstanding finger 39 on the sear 32 has sprung upwardly ready to engage at its rearward side the forwardly facing shoulder 91 formed by a recess or safety or rebound notch 98 in the lower portion of the wall of the striker some distance forwardly of the tail of the striker. This recess 98 extends to a uniform depth around an appreciable part, say about onethird of the circumference of the striker as seen in different positions in Figs. 16, 17 and 18. Forward of this uniform depth portion the wall of said recess slants outwardly again forming a slanting or cam surface 99. which operates to cammingly force the finger 39 out of the safety recess 98 when the striker is pulled rearwardly as during the cocking operation thereof. It will be noted that in this neutral or re-bounded position the striker 3| is spaced slightly back from its extreme fired or forward position and so leaves a space at the forward end of the chamber 68 in front of the front face of the striker. In this rebounded position of the striker this slightly retracted position of the striker allows the firing pin 82 to be retracted from engaging the cartridge and the rear end of the firing pin projects into the chamber 68 and so is ready to be engaged by the striker as appears in dotted lines in Figs. 13 and 14.

By reason of the striker being held back by the sear engaging the safety notch 98, the gun cannot be accidentally fired by a blow upon the tail of the striker.

To move the striker from this neutral or rebounded position shown in Fig. 13 to the cooked position of the rifle shown in Fig. 14 the tail of the striker is grasped by the shooter and drawn rearwardly to the position of the parts shown in Fig. 14. During this movement the head 18 of the striker-retaining bolt of course remains fixed as its position is permanent relative to the breech 2,223,092 7 'bolt and so the rearward" collar 95 remains fixed it comes to this position before'the shootencan. and forms a support for the rear end of the spring 15. This spring has been compressed during this rearward motion of the striker due to-the forward end of the spring being engaged by the forward- C collar 92 which has moved rearwardly with the rearward motion of the striker due to the engagement of the forwardly facing shoulder 99 of the forward collar 92 being engaged by the rearward shoulder 89 upon the forward part of the striker. During this retraction of the striker 31 the upwardly extending sear finger 39 has engaged the slanting cam face 99 upon the striker and said sear finger 99 has been depressed against the tension of the sear so as to ride along the cam face 99 and then along the lower or outer side of the striker forwa'rdof said cam face until as the striker is brought to cooked or retracted position the tension of the sear is able to again advance in-v wardly this finger 39 into the full cock hole or 18 of the striker-retaining bolt issome distance Within the rearward end ofthe bore of the striker. It will be noted also that the forward collar '92 is in the same position relative tothe striker that it was in the re-bounded position as shown in Fig. .11; that is, the forward end of the reduced diametered part of said collar projects forwardly of the front face of the striker. The front face of the striker likewise is moved proportionately farther back from the wall 69 of the breech bolt and especially from the still projecting rear end'of the firing pin 82 which'is to be struck sharply by the striker when released bythe sear by the pulling of the trigger. As soon as the sear finger 39 has moved into thefull cocked hole or opening 'lfl of the striker that finger holds the striker in cocked position and the shooters hand may be'released from the tail or thumb piece of the striker.

In this cocked position of the rifle as shown in Fig. 14 the spring 15 is compressed to its maximum working compression and minimum working length and is through the forward collar 92 exerting aforce urging the striker 3| forward, but movement of the striker is arrested as lon s the sear finger 39 is in engagement, with the shoulder 'll of the full cocked recess or hole 19.

Upon the trigger being pulled the sear 32 is drawn away from the striker and particularly the sear finger 39 is disengaged from the full cock recess or opening 19 of the striker and the cornpressed spring 15 then causes the striker to fly forward. As it fiies forward it gains momentum and carries the striker ,to the neutral or rebounded position shown in Fig.13 under the direct force of the spring at which'rebounded position I-the forward collar 92 has its forward end ongage the rearwardly facing wall 69 and so stop. the collar 92. The momentum, however, already given to the striker causes the striker to move.

still furtherforward and the striker carries with it the firing pin 82 to make its firing blow upon the cartridge and finally makes the forward end of the striker seat against the said wall 69 at the front end of the chamber of the breech bolt. The

1 position of the parts at this instant, namely the firing position, but prior to the rebound is shown in Fig. 15. It will be understood that this forward flying of the striker is done so rapidly that really release his'hold upon the trigger and;-'so;the searfinger 39 is still shown away from thestriker.

of the forward movement of the strikerwhich is It willbe seen that the actual firing stroke" given 1 to the firing pin is accomplished'by the last part a movement entirely of momentum. During this spring [5 is being compressed again to slightly more than its minimum working compression and to slightly less than its maximum working length I because its forward end is held by the rear end of the collar 92 whileits rearward end is being pushed in by the last part of the forward travel 1 of the striker which carries the rear collar 95 forward from the head of the retaining bolt'l-l. The amount that the coil springis furthercom' pressed after the striker passes'neutral position shown in Fig. 13 is shown by theshorter space that the spring occupies'between the said two collars as maybe seen by comparing Fig. 13' with Fig. 15. This difference may also be seen by com; paring the immediate engagement of the "rear collar 95 with the retaining bolt head l8 as seen in Fig. 13 withthe forwardly spacedpositionof the rear collar 95 relative to said bolt head 18 as seen in Fig. 15. This change in position of parts as mentioned now enables the said spring 15 to function as a rebound spring in that the "compression of the spring at once operates to move the striker back from the fired position shown in Fig. 15 to the neutral position shown in Fig' 13. operates to exert a rearward force upon the rear} ward collar 95 and therefore to the rear end of and the sear finger 39 springsupward into the safety notch-98 and the rearen'dof said finger is'again ready to engage the shoulder 91 and hold the striker from accidental forward movement.

Rotation of the striker in the breech bolt is prevented by means ofa key 999 pressed inward The compression given. to the'spring' 50 from the wall of the breech bolt and slidingly en-' -gaging a keyway l9l extending longitudinally of the top of the body of the striker as appears in Figs. 10 and 16. g Y

The wall of the hollow rear half of the breech bolt is cut away for its whole length making a slideway I92 located in the portion' of the breech has, been unlocked by swinging its handleupwardly and is being moved back or forth by said handle being moved back and forth through the passage 35 therefor in the receiver. Asbest s pears in Fig. 10 this slideway N32 is in line with the firing pin slot 93 and reaches to the rear end The rear end of this slideway I 92 it thereof.

' bolt tha-t is at the bottom" when the breech bolt will be seen communicates with the olearancecut l2 in the rear end of the breech bolt through which the sear finger 39 projects upwardly to engage the striker by entering the safety notch'or recess 98 in. the striker when the striker is in rebounded position. Accordingly the partial rotation of the bolt in the unlocking thereof swings slides through this slideway I02 with said finger 39 first engaging the cam surface 99 of the striker and then the bottom surface of the body of the striker and then moving inwardly and upwardly along the second cam face I03 until finally the finger 39 strikes sharply the rear end of the firing pin 82. This drives the firing pin forwardly in the breech bolt and. its firing point 84 is snapped forward against the opposite rim portion of the cartridge and thus the firing pin functions also as the ejector in striking the rear of the cartridge diametrically across from the extractor hook and thus operating to throw the cartridge from the gun.

The passageway I92 is continued a short distance forwardly of the Wall 69 so that the sear finger is able to push the firing pin slightly farther forward than said pin is moved by the firing pin during the firing operation. After the firing pin has been moved forward to cause the firing pin to function as an ejector the said firing pin comes to the end of its forward travel as limited by the short arm of the extractor engaging the recess in the firing pin as already described, and thereafter the engagement of the sear finger with the rear end of the firing pin retains the bolt in the gun so that the sear thus acts as the bolt stop preventing the bolt being withdrawn from the receiver beyond its normal retracted position If the breech bolt is to be entirely withdrawn from the receiver the sear finger is removed from this stopping position by pulling on the trigger which depresses the sear in substantially the same way as occurs during the firing operation.

On account of the peculiar angular shape of the trigger 33 and its articulation with the sear 32 and the contact of these parts normally with the receiver 21 as shown in Fig. 2 and again in full line position in Fig. 6, it will be obvious that a firing operation cannot be made by forward motion of the finger piece of the trigger for the reason that the trigger is positively locked against having its finger piece moved forward from normal position. The elements insuring such locking are the contact of the rear side of the trigger projection M with the rearward face of the slot 40 in the receiver, the contact of the upper face of the straight horizontal part 42 of the trigger as at zone I0! with the lower side of the receiver immediately thereabove and the contact of the forward face of the upper part of the central vertical portion 43 of the trigger with the forward face of the aperture 44 in the sear as at zone Hi8, it being understood that the sear is not movable lengthwise of the gun. After this trigger has been pulled it will come to a position as shown in dotted. lines in Fig. 6 where the trigger is locked against any further clockwise movement. This is accomplished partly by the engagement of the trigger projection 4! against the top and forward face of the slot 40 and partly by the engagement of the trigger at its interior angle with the upper and lower edges of the sear at the rear face of the sear aperture 44.

In the modification of the connection of the trigger to the receiver shown in Figs. 27 and 28, the sear 32 and trigger 33 are of substantially the same construction as already described and in general co-operate with each other and with the receiver as heretofore described. The projection M at the upper end of the trigger, however, fits into the widened front part I05 of a notch )6 extending in from the rear end of the receiver 29 at its bottom. This arrangement causes the sides of the widened front of the notch to hold the trigger from sidewise movement and yet allows the rear face of the widened part of the notch by engaging the rear side of the trigger projection M to lock the trigger finger piece from being moved forward from normal position in combination of course with the other interengaging points still present as above outlined with'regard to'the main form of trigger connection. After the trigger has made its firing motion, the trigger of this modification is locked from further similar clockwise movement by the engagement of the front face of the trigger projection M with the front face of the widened recess ms in combination of course with the other contacting parts still present in this modified form of trigger connection.

The rifle can be fired only by being properly closed, locked, cocked and having the trigger pulled. The rifle cannot be cooked until the breech bolt is fully closed and locked because the full-cock notch cannot be brought into register with the sear finger unless the breech-bolt is in that position.

An accidental discharge due to the cocking knob f the striker slipping from the grasp of the fingers in drawing the striker back to the fullcocked position is impossible due to the fact that in travelling forward the striker would have its half-cock notch engaged by the sear finger.

Accidental discharge from rapid and violent closing of the bolt accompanied by forward movement of the striker through its re-bound phase due to its velocity and inertiais impossible on account of the fact that the sear finger will engage the half-cock notch before the striker can move into its rebound phase.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a single shot bolt action firearm of the rim-fire type the combination of a barrel having a cartridge-receiving chamber at its rear end, a hollow receiver located to the rear of the barrel and having a loading and ejecting opening therethrough and a breech bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said receiver and having at its forward end a head space recess adapted, when the breech bolt is closed, to support the rear end of a rim-fire cartridge in firing position, a firing pin movably mounted in the breech bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head space at the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and freely open through said flange directly outwardly to the atmosphere a gas venting and observation cut extending from said recess to the periphery of the breech bolt through r substantially the portion thereof that is adjacent the said loading and ejecting aperture of the receiver when the bolt is closed and locked.

2. In a bolt action firearm of the rim-fire type the combination of a barrel having a cartridgereceiving chamber at its rear end, a hollow receiver located to the rear of the barrel and having a laterally arranged loading and ejecting opening therethrough and a breech bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said receiver and having at its forward end a head space recess partially bounded by a forwardly extending flange and adapted, when the breech bolt is closed, to support the rear end of a rim-fire cartridge in firing position, a firing pin movably mounted in the breech bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head space at the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and freely open through said flange directly outwardly to the atmosphere a gas venting and observationcut extending laterally from saidrecess to the periphery of the breech boltithrough substant'ially the portion thereof thatais' adjacentthe j said loading and ejecting aperture of the receive when the bolt'isclos'ed and locked.

3. In a bolt action of the rim-fire type firearm I the combination of a barrel having a cartridge receiving chamber atits rear end, a hollow receiver located to the rear of the-barrel'and having a loading and ejecting opening therethrough and a breech bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said receiver and having at its forward end a'hea'd' space recess adapted, when the breech bolt is' I closed, to support the rear end of a rim-fire .car-

' venting and observation cut extending from said recess to the periphery of the breech'bolt through substantially the portion thereof that is adjacent,

tridge in firing position, a firing pin movably 'm'ounted in the breech bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head space at the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and I freely open through, said flange directly outwardly to the atmosphere a gas the said-loading and ejecting aperture of the re-. ceiver when the bolt is closed and locked, said barrel also having on the loading side only a gasventing and observation cut adjoiningthefront of the said out in the breech bolt, and reaching from the rear face of the barrel close to the bore out to the peripheryof the'barreland substantially co-extensive with the saidcut in the breech bolt.

4; In a bolt action firearm of the rim-fire type the combinatio'n'of a barrel having a cartridgereceiving chamber at its rear end, a hollow receiver located to the rear of: the barrel and having a loading and ejecting opening therethrough [and a breech bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said receiver and having at its forward end a head space recess adapted, when the breech bolt is] closed, to support the rear end of a rim-fire car-I tridge in firing position, ayfiring pin movably mounted in the breech bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head spaceat the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and freely open through said flange directly outwardly to the atmosphere a gas venting and observation cut 'extendingfrom said recess to the periphery of the breech bolt through substantially the portion thereof thatisadjacent the said loading and ejecting aperture of the receiver when the bolt is closed and locked, said barrel also having onthe loading side only a gas- -venting and-observation out adjoining the front of the said out in the breech bolt, and reaching from the rear face of the barrel close to the bore out to the" periphery of the barrel and substantially co-extensive with the said cut in the breech bolt and having its forward wall sloping outwardly as it extends forwardly,

' 5. In a bolt action firearm of the rim-fire type V the combination of a barrel having a cartridgereceiving chamber at its rear end, a'hollow re-' ceiver located to the rear of the barrel and having a laterally arranged loadingand ejecting opening therethrough and a breech bolt reciprocatingly mounted in said receiverand adapted to make apartial rotation therein and having at its forward end a head space recess. adapted, when the breechbolt is closed, to support the rear end of a rimfire cartridge in firing position, afiring pin movably mounted in the breech bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head space at the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and freely open-through said flange 'directlyxoutwardlyfto theatmosphere a gas: a I

venting and observationcut extendingffromsaid Iceiver 'gwhen' Jtheirboltf =is closedif-and; locked; said the combination of a barrel having a cartridgereceiving chamber at its rear end, -a hollow receiver located to therear of the barrel'and havrecess to thepperiphery of thebreechiboltthrough I f substantially the porti'onithereof that isjadjacent the saidaload fi -and ejectingxapenture of,the'-rebarrel alsohaving on the loadingsideonly agas-' 3 j ing a laterally arranged loading 'jandejecting opening tlierethrough, a breech bolt reciprocatmake a partial rotation therein and having at its '2 ingly-rnounted in said receiver' and adapted to forward end a head space'recess partially boundat the rim supporting zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front endandfreely open through said flange f directly outwardly to. the atmosphere a gas ventingand observation out ed by aforwardly ext-ending flange and adapted, o

when the breech bolt is closed to support the rear endof a rim-fire cartridge in firing positiomra firing pin movably mounted in the breech bolt to 'be p1'ojected forwardly into the said head space extending from said recess to the periphery of the breech bolt through substantially the portion i thereof that is adjacent the said loading and ejecting aperture of the receiver when the bolt is closed and locked and a hooked extractor 'carried by and projecting forwardly ofthe breech bolt into a clearance cutiprovided in the rear end: 1 i

of the barrel on the loading-side onlyand extending circumferentially for the extent of, the partial rotation of the extractor, said barrel also having 7 said extractor clearance cut in the rear end of the barrel extended 'circumferentially beyondthe travel of the extractor and out to the periphery of the barrel, the entire cut in the barrel forming a gas-venting and observation cut axially adja-' cent to and circularly registering with -the front of the said cutin the breechbolt.

7. In a bolt action firearm of the rim -fire type the combination of abarrel having .a cartridge-,

receiving chamber at its rear end,,a hollow re-- ceiver located to the rear of the barrel and having a laterally arranged loading and ejecting opening abreech bolt reciprocatingl'ytherethrough, mounted ,in said receivenand adaptedi to make a partial rotation therein and havingat its forward end a head space recess partially bounded by a forwardly extending flangeand adapted, when the breech bolt is closedto support the rear end of a rim-fire cartridge in firing position, a

firing pin'movably rnounted'inthe breech, bolt to be projected forwardly into the said head space T at the rim supporting-=zone thereof, the said breech bolt having at its front end and freely open through said fiange'directly outwardly to the atmosphere a gas venting and observation cut extending from said recess to the periphery of the breech bolt through substantially theportion thereof that is adjacentthe said loading and ejecting aperture of the receiver when the bolt is closed and locked and a hooked extractor carried byand projecting forwardly of the breech "1 bolt into a clearance cut provided in the rear'end of thebarrel. on the loading side onlyand extending:circumferentially for the extent of the partial rotation of the extractor, said barrel also having said extractor clearance cut'in the rear end of the barrel extended circumferentially beyond the travelof the extractor and out to the periphery of the barrel and sloped outwardly and forwardly beyond the front end of the extractor,

the entire cut in the barrel forming a gas-venting and observation cut axially adjacent to and circularly registering with the front of the said out in the breech bolt.

NICHOLAS L. BREWER. 5 

